Why was there such a public outcry about American Psycho? To add further dimensions to this question, this paper will try to provide a deeper insight on the functions of violence in American Psycho. To pursue that goal, this paper follows a certain structure: After providing background information on the author, historical context and also the creational process of the book itself, violence as portrayed in American Psycho will be analyzed. Therefore, a theoretical framework, which ascribes specific functions to certain forms of violence, will be created. In a second step, the forms of violence as presented in American Psycho will be discussed and classified on the basis of the previously constructed framework.
After having found, named and classified distinct features of violence and their functions in the novel, it will be investigated to what extent the horror Bret Easton Ellis has created differs from traditional illustrations of violence and horror. The overarching question of this segment will be: What did Bret Easton Ellis do differently which would explain the audience’s intensive feeling of horror? The introductory hypothesis is that American Psycho was able to use violence on various levels and with multiple functions. Violence is not solely used to assign certain character traits to the protagonist and the society he lives in but also serves as vehicle to overcome the protagonist’s problems, namely anonymity of the cold-hearted world presented in the novel. Furthermore, violence also serves as a symbol for a constant and omnipresent threat, which creates the feeling of horror.
Additionally, violence is also used as a provocation while simultaneously hinting at the absence of ethics, which then again turns out to be social criticism of the protagonist’s world. In addition to this, the horror Bret Easton Ellis creates unites well-known concepts, brands, locations, etc. and combines those with an, until then, unknown feature, namely irrational and thereby uncontrollable violence. This creates a feeling of realism which, together with the absences of ethics, moral judgment and rationality, leaves the reader behind in a more vulnerable state than solely explicit violence in a surreal setting. This hypothesis will be taken up by the end of the paper and will then be verified, falsified or further modified.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. About the author
- 3. Historical background
- 4. What is violence?
- 5. Forms of violence in American Psycho
- a. Purification and Sacrifice
- b. Overcoming Superficiality/Experiencing Realness
- c. Aesthetics of the Ripper/Sex Killer
- 6. What makes the violence in American Psycho special?
- a. Hyperrealism
- b. Casual Silence
- c. "And I do not hope for a better world for anybody"
- 7. Discussion of results
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the functions of violence in Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, exploring why its depiction of violence caused such a public outcry compared to other works. It investigates how violence is used not just to characterize the protagonist and his society, but also to explore themes of alienation, the omnipresent threat of violence, and the absence of ethics within the novel's context.
- The functions of violence in American Psycho
- The relationship between violence and the protagonist's alienation
- The novel's use of violence as social commentary
- The creation of a hyperrealistic sense of horror
- The role of violence in overcoming superficiality
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho and its controversial depiction of violence. It poses the central question of why the novel's portrayal of violence sparked such a public reaction. The chapter outlines the paper's structure, which involves exploring the author's background, historical context, and a theoretical framework for analyzing the functions of violence within the novel. The introductory hypothesis suggests that the novel utilizes violence on multiple levels and for various purposes, including character development, overcoming the protagonist's alienation, symbolizing omnipresent threat, serving as social criticism, and creating a hyperrealistic sense of horror through the juxtaposition of mundane reality and irrational violence.
2. About the author: This chapter provides biographical information about Bret Easton Ellis, focusing on his upbringing, the success of his debut novel Less Than Zero, and the critical and commercial disappointment of his subsequent work, Rules of Attraction. It highlights the impact of his experiences within upper-class 1980s New York society and the negative reception of American Psycho, which led to intense public debate and cemented Ellis's status as a controversial but influential author. The chapter connects Ellis' personal experiences with themes present in his novels.
3. Historical background: This chapter explores the socio-political context of the 1980s in America, emphasizing the influence of Reaganomics, increased wealth disparity, and the rise of social Darwinism. It discusses the impact of the AIDS epidemic and the changing landscape of family structures, including the rise in divorce and single-parent households. The chapter also highlights the prevalent focus on the body and the challenging of taboos in various forms of media during this era, connecting these cultural trends to the themes and representations found in American Psycho. The chapter links the societal anxieties of the 1980s to the themes presented in the novel.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis, violence, hyperrealism, social commentary, 1980s America, alienation, consumerism, social Darwinism, horror, ethics, yuppie culture.
American Psycho: Violence, Hyperrealism, and Social Commentary - FAQ
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the functions of violence in Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, examining why its depiction caused such public outrage. It explores how violence is used to characterize the protagonist and his society, and to convey themes of alienation, the omnipresent threat of violence, and the absence of ethics within the novel's context.
What key themes are explored in the paper?
Key themes include the functions of violence in American Psycho, the relationship between violence and the protagonist's alienation, the novel's use of violence as social commentary, the creation of a hyperrealistic sense of horror, and the role of violence in overcoming superficiality.
What is covered in the "About the Author" chapter?
This chapter provides biographical information on Bret Easton Ellis, focusing on his upbringing, the success of Less Than Zero, and the critical reception of American Psycho. It connects his personal experiences with themes in his novels.
What is the significance of the historical context chapter?
This chapter explores the socio-political context of 1980s America, including Reaganomics, wealth disparity, the AIDS epidemic, changing family structures, and the focus on the body. It connects these cultural trends to the themes and representations in American Psycho.
How does the paper analyze the violence in American Psycho?
The paper analyzes the violence through several lenses: its hyperrealism, the casual silence surrounding it, and its symbolic meaning within the novel's narrative. Specific forms of violence are examined, including their potential functions as purification/sacrifice, a means to overcome superficiality and experience "realness," and their aesthetic connection to the imagery of rippers/sex killers.
What are the main arguments presented in the paper?
The paper argues that the novel uses violence on multiple levels: for character development, to portray the protagonist's alienation, to symbolize an omnipresent threat, as social criticism, and to create a hyperrealistic sense of horror through the juxtaposition of mundane reality and irrational violence.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis, violence, hyperrealism, social commentary, 1980s America, alienation, consumerism, social Darwinism, horror, ethics, and yuppie culture.
What is the structure of the academic paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a section on the author, a section on the historical background, an analysis of violence in the novel, a discussion of results, and a conclusion. It also provides a table of contents and chapter summaries.
What is the overall purpose of this academic paper?
The overall purpose is to provide a structured and professional analysis of the functions and significance of violence within Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, considering its literary, social, and historical contexts.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Till Neuhaus (Autor:in), 2015, Violence In American Psycho. Forms And Function, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/704192
